Los Angeles County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Lunada Bay for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Lunada Bay, Los Angeles County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on WSW swell at 5s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 5s and light SSW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on WSW swell at 5s with light SSE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 5s with gentle SE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SW swell at 12s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Lunada Bay is one of the best reef breaks in California — a powerful right-hander on the Palos Verdes Peninsula that holds waves from 4 to 30 feet. Historically guarded by the notorious Lunada Bay Boys, whose decades of intimidation and violence against visitors led to lawsuits settled in 2024. Access requires descending a cliff trail. The wave is bowly and powerful on WNW winter swells. Despite the settlement, approach with awareness.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Lunada Bay is 2ft with a 13.8s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Lunada Bay is 2ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Lunada Bay is Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Lunada Bay works best with a WNW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Lunada Bay. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Lunada Bay is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Lunada Bay is one of the best reef breaks in California — a powerful right-hander on the Palos Verdes Peninsula that holds waves from 4 to 30 feet. Historically guarded by the notorious Lunada Bay Boys, whose decades of intimidation and violence against visitors led to lawsuits settled in 2024. Access requires descending a cliff trail. The wave is bowly and powerful on WNW winter swells. Despite the settlement, approach with awareness.
The prime season at Lunada Bay is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Lunada Bay include sharp reef, cliff access, powerful waves, historical localism (settled 2024), long paddle out. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Lunada Bay forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
